Automatic gun.



R. B. JEIPERY. AUTOMATIC GUN. APPLICATION funn JULY 14,. 190s.

929,596. Patented July 27, 1909.

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R. E. JEFFERY.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 190B.

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AUTOMATIC GUN. Arrmculou FILED JULY 14. 1908.

929,596. Patented 27, 1909.

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RICHARD E. JEFFERY, PIEDMONT', CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Application led July 14, 1908. Serial No. 443,410.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD E. JEFFERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piedmont, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guns, ofV

which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to automatic iirearms. Y

The invention is applicable alike to rifles, shot-guns, or other h'rearms.

All automatic guns of which I have knowledge depend primarily for their action either on the recoil or on the action of the gases generated during discharge. These recoil or gas-actuated guns are open to various objections, chief among which is that where the automatic feature of the gun depends on recoil, that part of the force of the charge which should go to'impelling the projectile is used up in resetting the gun ready for the neXt shot. Also, the gases are forced back into the breech mechanism, and after a few rounds the gun must be entirely taken apart and cleaned. Furthermore, such guns do not permit the use of cartridges of diierent length, because in such guns the charge must be carefully regulated so as to produce the right recoil or generate the right compression.

The object of my invention is to overcome these several dificulties, and in short, provide a gun adapted to shoot at least three dierent lengths of cartridge of the sameV caliber; also to place the automatic mechanismentirely under the control 'o-ff the trigger', so that the automatic actionvfill not ope ate while the explosion is going on, and not until the trigger is released, when it ejects the empty shell and reloads the gun. Y Y

The invention also comprehends an automatic safety catch which is put in and out of commission whenthe hand is placed to pull the trigger, and means are provided whereby the trigger cannot be pulled 1f the breech-block is not forward and in proper place and locked.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and Acombination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichi Figure lis a section of a gun, with parts in position to fire. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the breech-block. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the hammer, partly in section. Fig. 4 shows the parts in loading position. Fig. 5 is a` section on line che Fig'. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on line y-g/ Fig. 1. Fig. is a section on line m-m Fig. 1. Fig'. 8 is a perspective of the elevator. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view, showing parts in firing position. Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the sear. Fig. l1 is an enlarged view of the breech-block and co-acting members. Fig. 12 is a perspective of the magazine latch. Fig. 13 is a detail of the extractor and ejector'.

In the embodiment of the invention as actually practiced, I have shown it as applied to a rifle, in which A represents the stock, 2 the barrel, 3 the magazine, 4C the trigger, 5 the hammer, 6 the sear, 7 the breech-block, 8 the iiring-pin, 9 the ringpin extension or coupler, 10 the extractor, 11 the ejector, 12 the cartridge elevator, and 13 the safety catch for the trigger. The relationship of these several devices, and the manner of their coordinate action, will now be described.

The butt of the stock .is suitably chambcred to accommodate the hammer 5 and the other. parts. The hammer is here shown in the form of a hollow rotary member turning on a hub or'axle 11i suitably journaled in the metal frame portion 15 of the gun. A coiled spring 1G has one end secured to the hammer member 5 and the other end to the hub 141-. The hub carries a ratchet 1,7 engaged by a spring pawl or click 18 which will allow the hub to turn only in one direction, for the purpose of winding up the spring. The spring is wound up by any suitable means, as, for example, the key inserted into a polygonal opening 19 in the hub; the hammer being held against rotation during winding, and at other times eX- cept while firing and resetting the gun, by

ieans of the scar G engaging one or the other of the lugs or projections 20 on the hammer. The sear G is pivoted in the gun frame, and has its lower end slotted and bentso as loosely to support and carry the lower end of the firing-pin coupler 9. rIhere are preferably three of the projections 2O arranged circumferentially of the hammer 5, and each one of these projections is engaged in succession by the Sear; and the latter is so fashioned and disposed that whenever the scar is rocked to release a projection 2O it will carr7 the lower end of the ring-pin coupler 9 into the path of the next succeed-V ing projection 20, so that the hammer, actroo ing on the impulse of the spring, will strike a blow on the firing-pin coupler 9 and thereby impart, as will shortly be explained, a sharp blow on the end of the tiring-pin 3 to cause the latter to discharge the cartridge if the gun is loaded. The sear G is operated from the trigger 4, and simultaneously with the pulling of the trigger, the firing-pin coupler 9 which is normally'out of the range of action of both the hammer and the firingpin is lifted into line with the tiring-pin, so that the force of the hammer may be transmitted to the firing-pin 8. The trigger 4 is rigid with a long arm or rod 22 arranged inside the gun frame and extending back adjacent to the lower end of the sear (i. The trigger, instead Yof having` a pivoting movement, is pulled back to slide the bar 22, to cause it to push back on the sear and release the latter from the hammer. The trigger is returned to normal initial position by means of a spring 35 and connections hereinafter to be cescribed. As shown in Fig. l0 the lower end of the sear is substantially U- shaped and double-slotted to pass the coupler 9; the front slot 23 being elongated to allow free play for the coupler rod. Thus pulling on the trigger and rocking the scar to release the hammer, lifts the lower end of the coupler 9 and carries it into the path of the next succeeding lug 20. A spring 26 acts on the sear to press the latter normally into the path of allug 20, so as to hold the hammer under the tension of its spring 16. J ust prior to the release of the hammer from the sear, the front end of the firing-pin coupler 9 is carried into line with the firing-pin 8; the breech block 7 being forward in locked firing position. This lifting of the forward end of the coupler 9 and alining it with the firing-pin is done through the medium of a bell-crank lever 27 fulcruined at. its angle and having one arm 28 enga ging a notch in the trigger. The front end of the firing-pin coupler 9 is carried loose by the other arm of the bell-crank 27. As shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 1l, the coupler 9 ts in a slot in the end of the lever 27, and the coupler has a notch 29 to accommodate a guide pin 30; this guide pin holding` the coupler 9 in place, at the same time allowing a limited lengthwise reciprocating motion of the coupler 9, consistent with the motion of the tiring-pin 8, which latter is held in place in a slot in the under side of the breech-block 7 by suitable means, as the guide pins 31.

The breech-block is mounted to slide back and forth in suitable guideways in the breech. Tts rear end is pivotally connected with the link 32 which extends back to and connects to one arm of a bell-crank 33 fulcrumed at its angle. The other arm of the bell-crank connects with a pawl 34 which has a hooked end to bear on the periphery of the hammer 5 and to be engaged at suitable intervals by one or other of the lugs 20, and thereby operate the breech-block for the purpose of ejecting the empty shell and reloading the piece. A stiff spring 35 which `is' approximately ogee in out-line acts on the bell-crank 33 normally to throw the breechblock forward into locked tiring position, and at the same time to draw the pawl 34 forward into position to be engaged by the particular lug 20 which is released from the sear when the trigger is pulled. By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that if the trigger is pulled and the scar 6 released from its lug 20, assuming the hammer spring 16 to be wound up, this particular lug 20 will catch the hooked end of the pawl 34 and carry the same along with it for a portion of a revolution, thereby rocking the bell-crank 33 and retracting the breech-block. ln order to release the pawl 34 from the lug 2O at the proper instant, provide suitable means, as a small leaf spring 36 on the under side of pawl 34, which will engage the periphery of the hammer and compress the spring 36 as 9e the pawl 34 is drawn rearward, as shown in Fig. 3; the tendency of the spring 36 all the time being, while under compression,

to push the pawl 34 radially outward from the hammer and disengage the pawl from the lug 20. This disengagement, however, is prevented until the proper instant by suitable means, as the lateral projections 37 on the pawl 34 traveling underneath the overhanging rigid guard 38. The guard 3S is so positioned with respect to the projection 37, and desired limit of lengthwise movement of pawl 34, that this projection 37 will come underneath the guard 3S before the leaf spring 36 is placed on tension; but the tension of this spring increases as'tlie pawl 34 is drawn to the rearward, and at just thc instant the projection 37 rides out from underneath the guard 3S, the spring 36 will act to push the pawl 34 radially outward from the hammer, thereby releasing the pawl from the lug 2() and allowing the spring 35 to act to throw the breech-block forward and return the pawl 34 to initial position.

The cartridge elevator 12 is operated automatically by the breech-block. As shown in Fig. l, this elevator is pivoted in the breech at 39 and has an arm 40 adjacent to its pivot 39 projecting up into a recess 41 in one side of the breech-block 7. The slot 4l is of such length that the breech-block will have a considerable lengthwise movement independent of the pivotal movement of the elevator, which latter is operated to carry a shell up into the breech in line with the bore by the front wall 42 of the recess striking the arm 40 on the rearward movement of the breech-block. Later, when the breechblock thrown forward under the action of the spring 35, the rear wall 43 of recess 4I engages the arm 40 'and throws the elevator down againinto position to receive a cartridge from the magazine 3.

The magazine 3 maybe of any desired or approved typev adapted to contain any number of shells, and which latter are pushed back on to the elevator by spring tension, or any other suit-able means.` The shells are normally prevented from entering the chamber in the breech by suitable means, a laterally act-ing spring catch 44 which is adapted to engage the rim of a cartridge. This spring' catch 44 is operated to release the shell `by means of a pivoted spring-actuated wedge member 45 at the front end of the elevator l2. This wedge member 45, as shown in detail in Fig. S, is adapted when the elevator is lifted to carry a cartridge into the breech, to turn on its pivot and-ride free backward over the end of the catch 44, Fig. l2; but when the elevator is thrown down again by reason.

of the end wall 43 of the breech-block hitting the arm 40, the wedge end of the member 45 will ride inside of the catchV 44 and push the latter outward, so as to allow a shell which is in the magazine to be pushed back into the elevator by reason of the tension of the spring. 46 in the magazine. The downward inclination of the elevator acts as a brake to the too rapid entry of the fresh shell into the breech, and the size of the releasing wedge 45 is of such small proportions that it'quiclrly releases the catch 44 and allows the latter to swing baclr on to the cartridge which is being pushed out vof the magazine, and thus intercept the rim of the next succeeding cartridge in the magazine; the tension of the spring 46 being sutlicient to insure (and it always has in the actual practice of my invention)A the pushing back of the released cartridge into the breech and on to the elevator. Then the breech-block is next retracted, the empty shell in the gun is drawn outward by the spring extractor l0. During the time that the shell is in the barrel, the ejector 1l is under the compression of its spring; but as soon as the shell is drawn out of the tiring chamber so that its front end is no longer supported, theV ejector l1 acts expansively to liip the shell outward through an opening in the side of the breech. This opening is normally closed by a slide 47 having a linger-hold 48 which screws through the slide and into the breech-block. The slide and breech-block move in unison, so that when the breech-block is forward theopening inthe breech will be closed. As soon as the empty shell is ejected, the front wall 42 of slot 4l in the breech-block strikes the arm 40 and thereby carries the cartridge which is on the elevator upward into line with the bore of the gun. On the forward movement of the breech-block this fresh cartridge is carried home into the chamber, and the elevator returned to its normal depressed posit-ion.

The safety catch 13 projects through a slot in the under side of the grip of the gun-stock and just rearward of the trigger and in suitable position to be engaged and pushed upward by the second linger when in the act of firing. rhe safety is springactuated and engages a shoulder 49 in one side of the trigger, and normally prevents the'latter and its rod 22 from being pushed back so as to trip the sear.

The operation of the gun is as follows: The spring 1G` of the hammer is wound up; the sear 6 preventing the hammer from turning and the ratchet 17 holding the spring under tension. Assuming a shell to be in the magazine and one to be in the firing chamber, and the breeclrbloclr forward in firing position, the gun is discharged by pushing up on the safety 13 and pulling on the trigger. lVhen the trigger is pulled the arm 28 is rocked to cause the lever 27 to lift and aline the front end of the coupler 9 with the liring-pin 8. If for any reason the breech-block is not thrown forward into locked firing position, the hook-shaped end 49 on the lever 27 will not be able to pass up behind the breech-block, and will prevent the trigger from being' pulled at all. If the breech-block, however, is forward in operative position the trigger may be pulled, alining the front eno of the coupler 9 in the manner described; at the same time the trigger bar 22 will push baclr on the scar (3, rocking the latter to release the hammer, andl carrying the lower end of the coupler into the path of the next succeeding lug 20. The hammer, through this last-mentioned lue' 20, acting under the tension of its spring 16, will impart a sharp blow on the coupler 9, and thence to the firing-pin 8 to explode the cartridge. Se long as the linger is on the trigger, and the coupler in thc path of a lng 20, the breech-block will be forward in normal locked position, and the hammer held against further rotation. rThe moment, however, that the pressure on the trigger is released, the coupler 9 will drop down, freeing itself from its lug Q0, and the hammer will start to turn. The lug 20 which had previously been released by the sear (i will thereupon catch the pawl 34 and carry the latter rearward with it to retract the breech-block and eject the shell and lift the elevator l2 into loading position. The moment, though, that the lateral projection 37 on the pawl 34 rides out from underneath the guard 38, the leaf spring 36 throws the pawl 34 upward and the spring 35 returns the breeelrbloclr into normal forward position and rains a shell home into the Chamber, at the same time .throwing the cartridge elevator l2 downn ward and taking a fresh shell from the magazine. There are preferably three projections E2() carried by the hammer, and they are so positioned that as the pawl 34 is released from o ne lug the scar G will catch another, and when the sear G is released from that lug, by means of the trigger, as previously described, the other lug on the hamner will act on the coupler 9 to discharge the piece.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I do not depend in any measure on kick or rccoil to operate my gun. The automatic action is entirely under the control of the operator at all times, and the rapidity of tire simply depends on how fast the trigger is worked. One may pull the trigger and discharge the piece, and so long as the pressure of the finger remains on the trigger the empty shell will remain in the gun; but the instant the pressure is released on the trigger, the mainspring in the hammer will automatically operate the internal mechanism to eject the empty shell and then reload the piece, provided there are any shells in the magazine. All that is necessary is occasionally to wind up the mainspring 16.

It is manifest that various changes in details of construction of the various parts of the operating mechanism may be made without departing from the principle here involved, and I do not wish to be considered as limiting myself to the particular means or arrangement herein shown and described.

For the purpose of holding the elevator 12 in its upper posit-ion while the breech-block 7 is propelled forward, any suitable -form of brake may be used, and as here shown consists of a simple spring 50 secured to one side of the elevator l2, and projecting therefrom to bear against the inside wall of the breech.

Having thus described my-invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Iatent is- Y l. In a gun, the combination with complemental-y firing mechanism, and a trigger mechanism, of a spring actuated rotary hammer having a sear adapted to be released by the trigger mechanism.

2. In a gun, the combination of a breechblock, a firing-pin carried by the breechblock, a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a sear, a trigger, and mechanism actuated by the hammer for imparting reciprocable movement to the breech-block.

3. In a gun, the combination of a springactuated rotary hammer, a firing-pin coupler normally out of operative position with respect to the hammer, a trigger, a sear, and means operative by the sear for placing the firing-pin coupler in operative position.

t. In a gun, the combination of a springactuated rotary hammer, a sliding breechblock, a sliding firing-pin carried by the breech-block, mechanism operated by the hammer for actuating the breech-block in one direction, means for operating the breechblock in the other direction, a sear, a trigger, and a coupler supported by the sear and operative by the trigger to place the iiringpin in operative position with respect to the hammer.

5. An automatic gun having in combination, a firing mechanism, a trigger mechanism, and an intermediate spring actuated rotary hammer.

G. In an automatic gun, the combination of a slidable breech-block, a firing-pin, a trigger, and spring-actuated mechanism including a spring actuated rotary hammer controlled by the trigger for automatically operating the breech-block and' the firing-pin.

7. In an automatic gun, the combination of a slidable breech-block, a firing-pin carried thereby, a cartridge elevator operated by the breech-block, a trigger, and springactuated mechanism including a rotary hammer for operating the breech-block and firing-pin.

8. In an automatic gun, the combination of a slidable breech-block, a firing-pin carried thereby, a cartridge elevator operated by the breech-block, a trigger, and spring-actuated mechanism for operating the breech-block and firing-pin, said spring-actuated mechanism including a rotary hammer, and means for connecting the hammer with the slidable breech block.

9. In a gun, the combination of a reciprocating breech-block, a firing-pin carried thereby, a rotary spring-actuated hammer, a sear, a trigger, mechanism actuated by the hammer for retracting the breech -block, means for returning the breech block to closed position, means for holding the breechblock in iiormal forward position, and a member interposable between the hammer and firing-pin to transmit motion to the firing-pin from the hammer.

10. In a gun, the combination of a reciprocating breech-block, a firing-pin carried thereby, a rotary spring-actuated hammer, a sear, a trigger, mechanism actuated by the hammer for retracting the breech-block, means for returning the breech block to closed position, means for holding the breech-block in normal forward position, and a member interposable between the hammer and firingpin to transmit motion to the firing-pin from the hammer, said member being partly supported by the Sear.

1l. In a gun, the combination of a reciprocating breech-block, a firing-pin carried thereby, a rotary spring-actuated hammer, a sear, a trigger, mechanism actuated by the hammer for retracting the breech -blocln means for returning the breech block to closed position, means for holding the breech-block in normal forward position, a member interposable between the hammer and firing-pin to transmit motion to the firing-pin from the hammer, said member being partly supported by the sear, and means operative by the trigger for interposing said member between the hammer and tiring-pin.

12. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a sear, a trigger for operating the sear, a ring-pin, and a firing pin coupler operative on by the hammer.

13. In anautomatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a sear, a trigger for operating the scar, a firing-pin, and a coupler operable by the trigger and interposable between the hammer and rin pin.

14e.V In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a sear, a trigger for operating the sear, a ring-pin, and a coupler operable by the trigger and interposable between 'the hammer and firingpin, said coupler having one end supported.,

by the sear.

15. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a Sear, a trigger for'operating the sear, a breechblock, means engageable by the hammer to actuate the breech-block, a firing pin, a iiring-pin coupler, and means operable by the trigger for interposing the coupler between the hammer and the firing-pin.

16. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a sear, a trigger having a sliding action to release the sear, a firing pin, and a ringpin coupler actuated by the hammer when the sear is released.

17. In anautomatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a sear, a. trigger, a tiring-pin, and means coperating with the trigger for operating the tiringpin on the release of the hammer.

18. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, a Sear, a trigger, a tiring-pin, means coperating with the trigger for operating the firing-pin on the release of the hammer, and a selfloclring safety catch :for the trigger.

19. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a` pivoted sear engageable with the projections on said hammer, means for maintaining the sear normally in the path of said projections, a trigger for operating the scar, a tiring-pin, and means coperating with the trigger for actuating theliring-pin on the release of the hammer.

20. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, aY pivoted sear engageable with the projections Von said hammer, means for maintaining the sear normally in the path of said projections, a trigger for operating the sear, a sliding breechblock, a tiring-pin slidable in the breechblock, means operable by the hammer for actuating the breech-block, means for reinning the breech block to normal position and means operated by the trigger for transmitting the force of the blow of the hammer, when the latter is released, to the tiring-pin.

In an automatic gun, the combination et a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a pivoted sear engageable with the projections on said hammer, means for maintaining the sear normally in the path of said projections, a trigger for operating the sear, a sliding breechblock, a tiring-pin slidable in the breechblock, means operable by the hammer for actuating the breech-block, means for returning the breech block to normal position and means operated by the trigger for transmitting the force of the blow of the hammer, when the latter is released, to the firingpin, said last-named means including a coupler normally out of engagement with the firing-pin.

22. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a pivoted scar engageable with the projections on said hammer, means for maintaining the scar normally in the path or said projections, a trigger foroperating the sear, a' sliding breechblock, a firing pin slidable in the breechblock, means operable by the hammer for actuating the breech-block, means for returning the breech-block to normal position and means operated by the trigger for transmitting the force of the blow of the hammer, when the latter is released, to the ringpin, said last-named means including a coupler normally out of en,f: ,'agement with the firing-pin, one end of said coupler being carried by the sear and movable into the range of action or" a projection on the hammer when the sear is released.

23. In an automatic gun, the combination or a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a sear engageable with said projections, a sliding breech-block, a firing-pin carried by the breech-block, means engageable by the vprojections on the hammer to retract the breech-block, independent means ior throwing the breechblock forward, a trigger, and Vmechanism operative by the trigger for transmitting the action ci the hammer to the firing-pin on the release of the sear.

2i. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having Vperipheral projections, a sear engageable with said projections, a sliding breech-block, a tiring-pin carried by the breech-block,

means engageable by the projections on theV hammer to retract the breech-block, independent means ior throwing the breechblock forward, a trigger, and mechanism operative by the trigger for transmitting the action of the hammer to the tiring-pin on the release of the sear, said last-nientioned mechanism including a coupler having one end supported by the sear and normally out of the path of action of said projections on the hammer and movable into the path of said projections on the release of the sear.

25. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a sear engageable with said projections, a sliding breech-block, a tiring-pin carried by the breech-block, means engageable by the projections on the hammer to retract the breech-block, independent means for throwing theA breechblock forward, a trigger, and mechanism operative by the trigger for transmitting the action of the hammer to the firing-pin on the release of the sear, said last-mentioned mechanism including a coupler having one end supported by the sear and normally out of the path of action of said projections on the' l hammer and movable into the path of said projections on the release of the sear, the opposite end of said coupler mounted on a movable part and movable, and said coupler engageable only with the tiring-pin when the breech-block is in forward locked position.

26. In an automatic gun, the combination of a. spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear engageable with said projections, a trigger for operating the sear, a sliding breech-block, a tiring-pin carried by the breech-block, mechanism operative by the hammer to retract the breech-block, a spring for returning the breech-block to forward locked position, and a coupler supported in part by the sear and operative by the trigger to transmit action from the hammer to the tiring-pin.

27. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a springactuated sear engageable with said projections, a trigger Jfor operating the sear, a sliding breech-block, a tiring-pin carried by the breech-block, mechanism operative by the hammer to retract the breech-block, a spring for returning the breech-block to forward locked position, a coupler supported in part by the sear and operative by the trigger to transmit action from the hammer to the firing-pin, and a safety catch engageable with the trigger.

28. In an automatic gun, the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear engageable with said projections, a trigger for operating the sear, a sliding breechblock, a tiring-pin carried by the breechblock, mechanism operative by the hammer to retract the breech-block, a spring for returning the breech-block to forward locked position, a coupler supported in part by the sear and operative by the trigger to transmit action from the hammer to the firing-pin, and a safety catch engageable with the trigger, said safety catch comprising a spring member having a portion to extend through the gun grip just behind the trigger.

29. In an automatic gun, the combination of a rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear, a trigger, a sliding breech-block, a firing-pin carried by the breech-block, connections with the breechblock including a pawl engageable by the projections on the hammer to retract the breech-block, and a spring to move the breech-block in the opposite direction.

5:30. In an automatic gun,'the combination of a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a sear, a trigger, a sliding breech-block, a sliding iiring-pin in the breech-block, coupling means operative by the trigger and interposable between the firing-pin and hammer to transmit the act-ion of the hammer to the iiring-pin, means for retractingthe breech-block, said means including a bell-crank lever, connections bctween the bell-crank and the breech-block, and a pawl engageable with and disengageable from the projections on the hammer for rocking the bell-crank, and means independont of the hammer for moving the breechblock in the opposite direction.

31. In an automatic gun, the combination of a rotary sprung-actuated hammer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear, a breech-block, means for releasing the sear, and means for retracting the breechblock, said last-named means including a bell-crank having one arm connected with the breech-block and the other arm provided with a pawl engageable with and disengageable from the projections on the hammer to rock the bell-crank in one direction, and4 means for rocking the bell-crank in the opposite direction.

32. In an automatic gun, the combination of a rotary spring-actuated hammer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear, a breech-block, means for releasing the sear, means for retracting the breech-block, said last-named means including a bell-crank having one arm connected with the breechbloc; and the other arm provided with a pawl engageable with and disengagcable from the projections on the hammer to rock the bell-crank in one direction, and means for rocking the bell-crank in the opposite direction, and means independent of the hammer for insuring the disengagement of said pawl from said projections.

33. In an automatic gun, the combination spring-actuated sear of a rotary spring-actuated vhai'iimer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear, a breech-block, means for releasing the sear, means for retracting the breech-block, said last-named means including a bell-crank having one arm connected with the breechblock and the other arm provided `With a paWl engageable VWith and disengageable from the projections onthe hammer to rock the bell-crank in one direction, and means for rocking the bell-crank in the opposite direction, and kmeans independent of the hammer for insuring the disengagement of said paivl from said projections, said lastnained means including a guard acting during a portion of the travel of the pavvl to hold the latter to the hammer, and a spring on the pawl acting to move the paWl outward radially of the hammer.

3d. In an 'automatic gun, the combination of a breech block, a rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated paWl engageable With said projections, a suitably supported firing-pin, a trigger, and means partly supported by the sear for imparting the action of the hammer to said firing-pin.

Y 35. In an automatic gun, the combination of a breech block, a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a

sjiring-actuated .scar engageable with saidY projections, a trigger having a sliding pai't engageable with the seai to vrock the latter, a tiring-pin, a coupler normally disengaged from the tiring-pin, and means operative by the trigger foralining the coupler and fu'- ing-pin and for bringing the coupler into the range of action of a projection on the hammer when the sear is released.

36. In an automatic gun, the combination of a breech block, a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a engageable vvith said projections, a trigger having a sliding part engageable With the sear to rock the latter, a tiring-pin, a coupler normally disengaged from the tiring-pin, and means operative by the trigger for alining the coupler and ring-pin and for bringing the coupler into the range of action of a projection on the hammer when the sear is released, said coupler being supported at one end by, and having a limited movement in unison with, the scar.

37. In an automatic gun, the combination oi' a breech block, a spring-actuated rotary hammerhaving peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear engageable with said projections, a trigger having a sliding part vengageable with the sear to rock a firing-pin, a coupler normally disengaged from the tiring-pin, and means operative by the trigger for alining the coupler and firing-pin and for bringing the coupler into` the latter,

the range of action of a projection on the hammer When the sear is released, said coupler being supported at one end by, and having a limited movement in unison With, the sear, the opposite end of the coupler being carried by a bell-crank support engageable by the trigger.

38. In an automatic gun, the combination of a breech block, a spring-actuated rotary hammer having peripheral projections, a spring-actuated sear engageable with said projections, a trigger having a sliding part engageable with the sear to rock the latter, a tiring-pin, a coupler normally disengaged from the tiring-pin, means operative by the trigger for alining the coupler and liringpin and for bringing the coupler into the range of action of a proj cctioii on the hammer when the sear is released, said coupler being supported at one end by, and having a limited movement in unison with, the sear, the opposite end of the coupler being carried by a bell-crank support engageable by the trigger, and a spring safety for the trigger.

39. In an automatic gun, the combination of a sliding breech-block, a tiring-pin carried thereby, a bell-crank having a shoulder to engage behind the firing-pin .when the breech-block is in forward position, a firingpin coupler carried by said bell-crank, a trigger for operating said bell-crank, and mechanism operated by the trigger for transmitting the blow of the hammer to the tiring-pin to discharge the piece.

ll0. In a gun, the combination With tiring mechanism including a tiring-pin, of a spring-actuated rotary hammer, and means for operating the hammer to deliver intermittently a succession of blows on the firingpin While the hammer travels in the same direction and Without reverse movement during the intermissions of hitting the iiringpin.

41. In an automatic gun, the combination of a rotary hammer, spring Winding mechanism for placing the hammer on tension, a sear, a trigger for operating the same, firing mechanism and loading mechanism, and means for discharging the piece When the triggeris pulled and for reloading the piece When the trigger is released.

42. In an'automatic gun, the combination of a rotary hammer, spring Winding mechanism for placing the hammer on tension, said hammer capable of delivering a succession of impulse movements in the same direction Without revvinding, means for controlling the said impulse movements of said hammer, and tiring mechanism operated by the hammer during said impulse movements.

4&3. In an automatic gun, the combination of a rotary hammer, spring Winding mechanism for placing the hammer on tension,

said hammer capable of delivering a suc- In testimony whereofl I have hereunto 10 cession of impulse movements in the same set my hand in presence of two subscribing direction Without rewinding, means for con- Witnesses.

trolling` the said impulse movements of said hammer7 firing mechanism operated by the RCHARD E. JEFFERY.A

hammer during said impulse movements,

and reloading mechanism alternating in ac- Vitnesses:

tion with the iiring mechanism and also CHARLES A.PENF1ELD, i" Operable by said hammer. CHARLES EDELMAN. l 

